Does BMW really make a good car?

Question

I have a 2006 325xi and it has one serious problem that negates all of the other good things it has.

When you demand sudden acceleration, the car hesitates for about 3 seconds and then goes. The dealer can't do anything about it, not even the factory rep. I think the car is dangerous to have that, what happens when you try to pass, or left turn with on coming traffic? This is not good engineering.

If you go over a 2 inch bump, the suspension will bottom out.

I personlly think they are over-rated.

Answer 1

Your car has a drive by wire system which has causes a delay in your need for speed. Drive by wire is an electronic system that connects your pedal to the throttle. Most manufacturers are putting these into their cars because they cost less to put in than to have an actual connection from the gas pedal to the throttle.

You might also want to look at a few maintenance items to try to speed up the response. Change the fuel filter and the air filter. Both are cheap and somewhat easy to do.

Also, you might want to swap out your sport suspension for a regular one of you don't want to have to deal with your car bottoming out on speed bumps. Don't blame BMW for that. It happens on all lowered cars.

Answer 2

Some here have said the new 7 series is not good. I think it has it's issues but I did not like the new style 7. I have a E38 2000 and LOVE IT. Yes, Parts and maintenance are expensive but the car WILL last forever. Proof of this is I have owned 3 previous BMW. My first, a 1975 530i and I got it in '92 and it lasted me until I found a better one. Next Car, 1978 Euro 530i. Again, Awesome and very unique. After that a 83 528e. Not as fun as the 78 but still a great car and a wonderful ride even for it's age. I hardly spent any money on Parts or Work. My biggest expense back then was Gas. I had mechanics look at all of them and they always loved how clean the engine and how well all the parts held up. I had to once replace an alternator but the current one I replaced was well over 20 years old. There are horror stories out there but that is with any car. If you like BMW's stick with it.

Bad acceleration on a 3-Series seems resonable just like my friends Honda Accord. If you want better response and acceleration I would suggest upgrading some parts. Dinan upgrades and upgrades from Bavaria can make your car respond better. Moving up to a 5 or 7 will also get you a bigger motor unless you look at a 6 or older M3.

For the Suspension it seems like something there is wrong. BMW's should not do that. perhaps something with the struts. I would have dealer check that out.

Answer 3

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Even an older one just plain drives better than 95% of anything else on the road. It's almost something you can't describe. It's a precision. You point the car a direction, that's where it goes, precisely, no fuss. You enjoy commuting (or driving all over town all day, as my job requires) so much more because you get the chance to drive your Ultimate Driving Machine. They don't just make that slogan up. They have earned it, in the way they bring everything a car should be, together. Front engine, rear wheel drive, 50/50 weight distribution, ridiculously strong bodies, often an inline 6, the list goes on... The inline 6 is the perfect engine design, with perfect first and second order harmonics, look it up if you don't know what that means. It's a smoothness you can feel. I enjoy mine every day. Like any car it has a few weak spots (cooling system lol) but I do my own work and replaced all of that and now she's ready for the next 150k. Like so many have said, once you drive one, you may never drive anything else. I'm thinking of what my second one might be, but for now I've got a lot of enjoyment left in my e46.

Answer 4

Acceleration problems? The car has, what, 230 hp, which would put it right at 200 hp at the wheels... That's more power than most of the cars in the same class, but that's not a ton of horse power, so yes, there is a slight delay. Any car with under 300 hp will be the same way. It's not just BMWs. My mother drives an Accord as well as my friend, and they both have a lag. Another friend drives an Audi A4, and it too has a lag unless she puts it in sport mode and shifts it manually. I drive a 2007 328i, but I have a manual transmission so I can get around this lag that you speak of by dropping down a gear, and the thing takes off. Before I bought my BMW I had a Ford ZX2, which, guess what, had a lag at take off. I also had a Jeep CJ-7, which, you guessed it, had a lag. To be honest with you, the only cars I have driven that don't have that lag are well over 300 hp.

Answer 5

There is something completely wrong with your car. If they dealer said they can't fix it they're lying. 3 seconds is way too long for it too downshift. Your car probably has a faulty transmission or something and I would be getting a lawyer involved if I were you. My BMW is a '97 740i and it goes like hell the moment you step on the gas. A brand new one shouldn't lag at all. BMWs are famed on their acceleration and handling, so it should downshift instantly. Like I said...get a lawyer or a second opinion from a different BMW dealer. You may even some kind of response if you write a letter to BMW about it.
As for the suspension thing, I think you're exaggerating. Yeah, it's low to the ground, but there is no way that it "bottoms out" over a small bump. You're probably just pulling into a driveway too fast and scraping the front air-dam on the cement. Learn how to drive.
I don't think BImmers are overrated at all. I love mine and I'm sure I'll buy another BMW after mine gets too old and raggedy.

Answer 6

3 seconds is way too long. Make sure you are using the proper gas (premium is recommended, plus seems fine), not regular as this will exacerbate the problem. There is a lag, it's small but it's there. I use the sport mode to combat this issue, this mode makes sure you start in first gear, and adjust shift points and response.

If you think the 3 is bad, go drive mb's all new c, Audi a4, Lexus, acura, they are worse for the comparable model.
They are certainly not overrated, it's the best car in it's class. If you have a problem with the suspension on a world class handling vehicle, well, go buy a Camry, you won't bottom out anymore. (You also won't be able to turn, but what do you care, you obviously can't appreciate a top handling automobile)

Answer 7

As an owner of three bmw 3-series ('94, '00, '02) i have never had any problems like you have described.

my car bottoms out once in a great while, but only at very low speeds when i go on a high speed bump, but never while im driving the car more than 5 or 10 mph.

good luck with everything!

Answer 8

I test drove the 328ix. I too concluded that the performance was lacking on it. The regular 328i does not have this problem. If I were going to get the ix, I'd have to get the 335ix.

Having driven the 328i for a while, I don't see the point in the x drive system unless you live in snow belt.

If you are wanting to pass a car, why not try sport mode?

Answer 9

Depends on the series... the higher the series (i.e., "3", "5" or "7" the more mone you pay for less reliablity.

I own a "3 series" and swear by it, but based on my colleagues if I wanted to "move up", I'd buy a Lexus first before I ever considered a high maintenance 5 or 7 series.

Answer 10

heck ya! notice that bmws have a lot of power for the gas..like a 300c chryster has 190 if that horsepower and has the same gas mileage as a bmw 335 or 535 w.e. which has 300 hp